FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Sunday is national cancer survivor day, and across South Florida, survivors, family members, and caregivers are taking time to celebrate how far they’ve come.

At Gilda’s Club South Florida, Saturday’s cancer survivor celebration brought together people of all ages impacted by the deadly disease.

For sisters Monica and Magaly Morales, the day was also a reminder of their own journey.

When Monica was diagnosed with stage one thyroid cancer last year, it caught her completely off guard.

“it took me actually as a shock because it was really unexpected,” she said. “I froze. I didn’t know what to do, who to call. Who do you call?”

Doctors were able to remove the cancer through surgery, but she says the experience still came with questions, appointments, and recovery.

Having her sister in her corner made some of those tougher days a little easier.

“When you see a person weak, when you see a person helpless, confused, depressed, all you can do is encourage them, right?” said Magaly Morales. “Encourage them, embrace them, love them more, and let them know that you’re there for them. Give them a hug, give them that extra kiss, whatever it is that they need that they’re going through, you’re there to see it, and they feel it, and they know that they’re not alone.”

Now, Monica Morales says she’s moving forward with a new perspective, grateful for her health and for the people who stood by her side.

“I’m happy to be alive,” she said. “I’m happy to have health. I’m happy to be surrounded by a loving family, great support system, friends.”

And these days, it’s the simple things she appreciates most.

“I love to sunbathe, I love to go swimming, love to go to the beach,” she said.

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